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God can go back into our lives and reverse anything we did wrong, or that wronged us

Do you realize that God can go backwards in time and reverse the effects of anything we have done wrong, or that was wrongly done to us (if He so wills)? We have mentioned this before — how the Lord not only can allow us to rectify past mistakes as if they didn’t even exist (once we seek His forgiveness and expiate — purify) but can even revisit certain points in our lives and eliminate the cause of a disease or psychological harm that set in during particular periods.

The Lord is omnipotent. He is also timeless. He can appear at any time in any situation. He speaks to our supernatural existence, which is the root of our dignity. There is not a single miracle that you do not have the potential to tap into. There is never reason not to persevere. We have seen accounts right unto death of how trust and perseverance pay off — mountains moved, severe problems eradicated. Usually, they are smaller mountains — bumps in our lives — that we need help over.

Life on earth is a constant invisible transaction. Our victories often seem like “minor” victories, but they are no less miraculous. The money that came when you needed it? That lonely child of yours who suddenly has a buddy?

“Small” victories, but perhaps not really all that small.

We see such miracles every day and refer to them as answered prayers. It’s the way that the God of miracles coordinates our lives when we are in tune with Him and are selfless. I once received a Christmas card that listed the various ways of “dying to self.” It was eye-opening. It described dying to self as:

— When you are forgotten or neglected and you don’t hurt with the insult, but your heart is happy — that is dying to self

— When your advice is disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, and take it all in patient, loving silence — that is dying to self

— When you lovingly and patiently bear disorder, irregularity, tardiness, and annoyance… and endure it as Jesus endured it — that is dying to self

— When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or record your own good works, or itch for praise after an accomplishment, when you can truly love to be unknown… that is dying to self

— When you can see your brother or sister prosper and can honestly rejoice with him, and feel no envy even though your needs are greater — that is dying to self

— When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment, any climate, or any society — that is dying to self

— When you can take correction, when you can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, with no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart — that is dying to self.”

Slowly but surely, we must reorient our lives; it takes patience. Life on earth is a constant struggle to balance our moods, diligent in our work, steadfast in our prayer, and full of constant love, which is the true power of the universe and what will propel us upward. Nothing is tragic when it assists our march to Heaven. A safe life is a deep life lived for God. When we approach each day from the perspective of His mission instead of our own designs, we are on the way to opening doors we didn’t even know existed, doors behind which, as I have emphasized, are graces. During the famous Catholic apparition known as the “Miraculous Medal,” the Blessed Mother appeared with rings on her fingers, each set with gems that radiated streams of light. It was explained to the seer (a nun who was later canonized, St. Catherine Laboure) that the rays from the gems were the symbols of graces that came from Christ and that Mary, as His assistant, shed upon those who asked for them. “The gems from which rays do not fall,” she said, “are the graces for which souls forget to ask.”

We need to stop and think about what we may be missing! Those gems come when we are seeking His embrace and have taken the time to humbly ask for them. When we have resistance, we have to remember that there may be spiritual forces unique even to certain areas that can intermingle with our own vulnerable spirits. These need to be cleansed. — at the same time that we invoke angels.

Once received, such graces are enhanced every time we’re diligent, overcome a bad habit, confess a sin (making a real effort not to repeat it), or turn away from what tempts us. God blesses us to encourage us in goodness and withdraws blessings to indicate when we are in error. Graces are enhanced every time we turn the other cheek.

I have seen a number of cases where what seemed like a disaster caused by the evil of another was simply ignored and followed by graces that greatly exceeded what the evil took away.